By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
There are 11 teams from the Greater Austin Area set to play in this weekend’s regional finals of the 2024 UIL Texas high school volleyball playoffs.
Among them is Vandegrift (32-14), which defeated perennial powerhouse New Braunfels Canyon 16-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-13 in a Class 6A Division II Region IV semifinal Tuesday at the Toney Burger Center in Austin.
The Vipers (32-4) will advance to this weekend’s regional final (or state quarterfinal) to face another giant in San Antonio Harlan (40-5), a state semifinalist last year.
If Vegas was setting betting lines, Harlan would likely be the overwhelming favorite in its matchup with Vandegrift.
However, it might be worth noting that the Vipers have taken down a number of giants in their Cinderella playoff run, including state-ranked Austin High in the first round.
Head coach Melissa Southall said the confidence boost that came from upsetting the Maroons is a big reason her young Vandegrift team has come this far.
“We set goals in January to win district (25-6A) so we could get the No. 4 seed from 26-6A because that district is insanely good,” Southall said. “Then (the UIL) throws a curve ball on us with the division split, so now we really have to get first, so we don’t have to play the top seed.
“So, I think beating Austin High reiterated to our girls that the Austin area is a tough area for volleyball, and we belong.”
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Getting back up after being knocked down
New Braunfels Canyon (33-14) handily took the first set with its offensive machine of junior outside hitter Marlee Lightsey and senior outside hitter Quinn Cross.
Vandegrift, however, only trailed three times in the remainder of the match and took the final three sets.
“Canyon is a solid team, and they are coached very well, so we knew they were going to come ready,” Southall said. “I think that first set was a big wake up call for the girls, like ‘hi, welcome to the sweet 16.
“(Canyon) was prepared and we couldn’t counterattack in the first set. We just needed to get into our rhythm.”
Pair of juniors leading the charge
Vandegrift’s roster doesn’t have that one standout player like Riley Malloy of Austin High or Lily Davis of Westlake.
What the Vipers do have is a team that rallies around each other with several standout players who can step up on any given night.
“They play really, really well together,” Southall said. “The volleyball IQ they all have is something I just haven’t seen in a while. Their composure and their temperament to respond when things don’t go their way is just a testament to their IQ and bond.”
The unspoken leaders of the Vipers are 6-foot-1 junior setter Ava Carrasquillo and junior Jenna Hehman, an efficient outside hitter whose 500 kills with a .308 hitting percentage place her in the top 10 for the Austin area.
Both are among the top players in the Austin area at their position and complement each other the way a quarterback and wide receiver do on the football field.
The setter position is much like a quarterback. They control the offense and move the ball around to create scoring opportunities, and Carrasquillo is among the best in the Austin area. She ranks fifth for assists with 1,002.
Carrasquillo’s long wingspan and height allow her to cover a good portion of the net, giving the Vipers another middle blocker and outside hitter on the front line.
“She’s super dynamic, and she’s so athletic,” Southall said. “She can do things with the ball that no other setter can do, which puts us in good situations, and what she can create for our outsides and middles is just really special.”